Rexel to Acquire Wire and Cable Distributor GCG in $1.4 Billion Deal

Rexel has agreed to acquire GCG, a Chicago-based specialty wire and cable distributor, from Audax Private Equity. The deal has an enterprise value of about $1.4 billion and is expected to close by the end of 2026, subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions.

According to Rexel:

• Size: GCG has 16 locations and about 950 employees, and expects 2026 revenue above $1.1 billion
• Markets: more than 60% of revenue comes from segments such as data centers, power and utilities infrastructure, grid modernization, communications, and defense
• Services: more than 75% of revenue includes value-added products or services, such as engineering, custom assembly, product modification, kitting, and testing

Why this matters for wire and cable

The numbers show how much a global distributor is willing to pay for specialty capability, not just volume. Much of GCG's revenue comes from work that goes beyond shipping a catalog item.

That kind of business is hard to run on simple systems. Custom assemblies, modified products, and kits bring more specifications, more pricing variables, and more handoffs between sales, engineering, and operations.

Actionable takeaway: if value-added work is a growing part of your business, check whether a customer can get an accurate quote and specification without someone rebuilding it by hand.